Teams have three minutes to propose their solution to a problem and demonstrate the market opportunity and the team’s ability to succeed. Ten companies will compete for four prizes of $25,000. Judges will present one winner with an additional $10,000 for the top hardware pitch. Another 10 early-stage startups will compete for one of four awards of $5,000.
Companies competing for the Winter 2018 Velocity Fund $25K are:
- A-Line Orthopaedics is developing implants for safer, faster surgeries.
- Bibu Labs uses artificial intelligence to provide defense against cyberattacks.
- Brink Bionics is developing a low-cost, high-functioning, hand prosthesis.
- is a fuzzing platform that keeps critical software secure.
- is a platform to provide movement-disorder specialists with AI-driven analytics and disease prediction to better treat patients.
- offers a modern phone system for small businesses.
- PolyGone Technologies is developing laundry and filtration technologies to capture microfibres before they enter our environment, water, and food.
- is developing a marijuana breathalyzer.
- offers a mobile app that lets you buy clothing from popular brands such as H&M, Zara, and Nike.
- helps agile and distributed teams run feedback meetings that encourage participation, promote alignment, and ensure accountability.
Finalists pitching for the Winter 2018 Velocity Fund $5K are:
- Circadian Energy provides affordable, long-term energy infrastructure for underserved communities by providing simple home-to-home energy sharing.
- Elevate is a game-based digital platform that empowers individuals with Down syndrome to become active members of society.
- Freewheel is an accessible, affordable retrofit system for walking devices.
- Gndrv is a data management platform for biological data, like GitHub for DNA.
- builds mass custom cryocoolers to enable widespread implementation of cryocooled technologies.
- Quantum NanoPure provides affordable access to specialty fullerene molecules for researchers and distributors.
- Stabilo offers a hardware solution to improve the rate and level of recovery for people regaining motor functions, starting with victims of stroke.
- The Health Aisle is a web-based platform that directly connects pharmacists with their patients to improve health outcomes and increase billable revenues for pharmacies.
- offers an in-room kiosk to optimize hotel service experiences and revenue.
- helps visually impaired interface with touch screens.
Velocity Fund $25K judges:
- Peter Aceto; co-founder, eQuoshift and former CEO, Tangerine
- Jamie James; managing partner, Greensoil Building Innovation Fund
- Karen Madden; VP technology & innovation, PerkinElmer
- Greg Stewart; president, Greensky Capital
Velocity Fund $5K judges:
Location: Great Hall, Student Life Centre, University of Waterloo
Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Time: The $5K competition starts at 11 a.m. The $25K competition starts at 1 p.m., with the event wrapping up at about 3 p.m.
Register online
Velocity is a comprehensive entrepreneurship program at Waterloo. Winners will also win incubation space at the Velocity Garage, Canada’s most productive startup incubator.
